Washing machine and washing control method of the same

Abstract

A washing machine and a washing control method of the same that is capable of controlling laundry to be effectively washed with bubbles depending upon load of the washing machine. The washing control method includes supplying wash water and detergent into a water tub, heating concentrated detergent liquid including the wash water and the detergent mixed with each other, generating and supplying bubbles into the water tub when the temperature of the heated concentrated detergent liquid reaches a predetermined bubble generation temperature, and washing laundry with the supplied bubbles.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A washing control method of a washing machine to perform washing laundry using bubbles, the method comprising:
 wetting the laundry by supplying wash water in a rotary drum having a plurality of holes of the washing machine with the wash water while concurrently operating the rotary drum at an RPM and operation rate set depending upon an amount of laundry for a predetermined period of time; 
 after the laundry has been wetted, supplying wash water containing detergent into a space between a lower portion of the rotary drum and a lower inner surface of a water tub; 
 heating the wash water containing detergent; 
 generating bubbles into the space between the lower portion of the rotary drum and the lower inner surface of the water tub from a lower portion of the water tub by controlling a bubble generating device positioned at the lower portion of the water tub; 
 supplying the bubbles generated between the rotary drum and the water tub into the laundry through the holes of the rotary drum: and 
 washing laundry with the supplied bubbles, 
 wherein wetting the laundry comprises supplying the wash water to a space between a lower portion of the rotary drum and a lower inner surface of a water tub, so that the level of wash water does not reach to a lower outer surface of the rotary drum. 
 
     
     
       2. The washing control method according to  claim 1 , wherein supplying the wash water containing detergent into the space comprises:
 supplying the wash water containing detergent into the space defined between the rotary drum, in which the laundry is loaded, and the water tub such that the wash water containing detergent is not brought into contact with the laundry in the rotary drum. 
 
     
     
       3. The washing control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a water level of the wash water containing detergent. 
 
     
     
       4. The washing control method according to  claim 3 , wherein the water level of the wash water containing detergent is controlled to be maintained at a bubble generation water level at which the bubbles are generated, while the wash water containing detergent is not in contact with the laundry. 
     
     
       5. The washing control method according to  claim 4 , wherein, when the water level of the wash water containing detergent reaches a first water level at which the wash water containing detergent is not in contact with the laundry, the supply of the wash water containing detergent is stopped to control the amount of the wash water containing detergent. 
     
     
       6. The washing control method according to  claim 4 , wherein, when the wash water containing detergent is at the bubble generation water level, the bubbles are generated. 
     
     
       7. The washing control method according to  claim 6 , wherein, when the bubbles are generated exceeding a level suitable for washing, the rotary drum, in which the laundry is loaded, is rotated. 
     
     
       8. The washing control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a water level of the wash water containing detergent changed depending upon the bubble generation; and 
 when the detected water level reaches a second water level which is the minimum water level necessary for the bubble generation, resupplying wash water. 
 
     
     
       9. The washing control method according to  claim 8 , wherein the second water level is a heater safety water level necessary to drive a washing heater during hot water washing using bubbles. 
     
     
       10. The washing control method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 setting a number of water resupply operations to resupply wash water depending upon an amount of the laundry, wherein 
 resupplying wash water comprises controlling a water resupply action based on the set number of water resupply operations. 
 
     
     
       11. The washing control method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 driving continuously a washing heater to heat the wash water containing detergent to a user-predetermined temperature when the temperature of the wash water containing detergent reaches the bubble generation temperature, wherein 
 heating the wash water containing detergent to the user-predetermined temperature is carried out along with the bubble generation.